2013 Jaguar XF Adds AWD, New Four- and Six-Cylinder Engines

Presently, the Jaguar XF lineup consists only of eight-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive motorcars – but that won’t be the case for long. Jaguar officially announced today that the U.S.-spec 2013 XF range will gain two new engine offerings, along with an optional all-wheel-drive system.

XF 2.0

The first of those two new engines is a turbocharged, direct-injection 2.0-liter I-4. Sound familiar? It should: it’s the same engine used in the Range Rover Evoque, and is procured from Ford, who uses it in the likes of the 2013 Escape. In this application, the 2.0-liter’s output matches that of the Evoque: peak horsepower is rated at 240 at 5500 rpm, while peak torque – 251 lb-ft – is delivered between 2000 and 4000 rpm.

Jaguar says that power is enough to propel the XF from 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds, but we suspect customers will be wooed by a different set of metrics. When paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission – which is now standard across the XF family — preliminary testing suggests the XF 2.0 should return 19/29 mpg (city/highway) on the EPA’s test cycles, making it the least thirsty Jaguar sedan presently offered in North America. Further, at $47,850 (including $875 in destination fees), the XF 2.0 will also be the least expensive model in Jaguar’s portfolio.

XF 3.0

The 2013 XF’s other engine offering is an all-aluminum, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6. Like the 2.0-liter, this engine should also be familiar to those keeping tabs on Jaguar news: it’s the same engine announced for the forthcoming F-Type sports car, and the same engine previously confirmed for the brand’s large XJ sedan.

The blown 3.0-liter is rated at 340 hp at 6500 rpm, and delivers 332 lb-ft of torque between 3500-5000 rpm. That’s not far off from the naturally aspirated, 5.0-liter V-8 it replaces, but the V-6’s estimated fuel economy certainly trumps the now-discontinued 5.0-liter. As Jaguar pairs the 3.0-liter six with engine stop/start, the XF 3.0 should return 18/28 mpg, an improvement over the 5.0-liter’s 16/23 rating. Pricing begins at $50,875, which is roughly $3000 less expensive than a base 2012 XF 5.0.

AWD

The XF 3.0-liter is also the only 2013 XF model to be offered with a new all-wheel-drive system, which is also available in the larger 2013 XJ sedan. In most situations, the system sends the majority of its power to the rear wheels, but can split torque 50/50 between the front and rear wheels when slip is detected. The system also pre-loads the front wheels with torque on launch in an attempt to negate wheelspin.

Buyers won’t sacrifice much in order to attain the additional traction: XF 3.0 AWD models are about a half-second slower to reach 60 mph, and take a mild fuel economy hit (16/25 mpg vs. 18/28). The system commands a $3000 premium, bringing the base price of an all-wheel-drive 2013 XF 3.0 to $53,875. Jaguar expects 75% of all XF and XJ AWD sales to be concentrated in the U.S. alone.

XF Supercharged, XFR

Customers desiring eight-cylinder power aren’t out of luck, but are now relegated to two models. The 2013 XF Supercharged is now the least-expensive means of procuring an XF with a V-8, though it still commands a sizable $68,975. Its supercharged, direct-injection 5.0-liter engine produces a healthy 470 hp and 424 lb-ft of torque, but those seeking a little extra punch can still opt for the XFR, which starts at $84,075. The top-tier XF delivers a wicked 510-hp punch, along with 461 lb-ft of torque delivered between 2500 and 5500 rpm. A new optional speed pack for the XFR adds a few unique aerodynamic tweaks, and bumps the electronic top speed limiter from 155 mph to 174 mph.

Other Content

Since Jaguar’s splitting its lower-tier XF models across two engine ranges, it’s not surprising to see content structures shifted into packages in lieu of stand-alone models. An upgraded navigation system, along with HD radio, Sirius satellite radio, and a 380-watt Meridian sound system, is available in an optional Premium Pack. The Portfolio pack adds upscale leather seating with contrast stitching, 16-way heated and cooled front seats, a suede headliner, and deep-pile carpeting. A Sport Portfolio Pack goes even further by tossing in 19- or 20-inch aluminum wheels, 18-way power front sport seats, and piano black interior trim.

Look for additional details and pricing to emerge closer to the 2013 XF’s on-sale date, which is tentatively scheduled for early 2013.

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